Business Leader of the Year - Andy Warwick
The Business Leader of the Year award is given to a deserving recipient based on their leadership
in the Fairbanks business community, business achievements, community service, and
educational support. On April 17, 2015 the 39th Business Leader of the Year award
will be given to Andy Warwick of Warwick and Schikora, CPAs.
Andy Warwick, a 1966 graduate of the ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ School of Management, has demonstrated leadership
at both local and statewide levels in both public and private sector responsibilities.
Andy has worked as a practicing CPA since 1978 and a short time later he and his business
partner, Rick Schikora, established Warwick and Schikora, CPAs.
Despite being extremely busy running a business and raising a family, Andy found time
to serve his community as well. Andy is a former State Legislator and State of ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ
Commissioner of Administration under Governor Jay Hammond. In addition, he served
nine years on the Fairbanks School Board, two years on the State Board of Education,
and six years as Chair of the ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ Natural Gas Development Authority.
Andy’s leadership skills were instrumental to the creation of Fairbanks Sewer and
Water, a start-up company formed in 1995 to privatize the Fairbanks water and sewer
utilities, and he remains the Chair of the Board of Directors. Andy has been a member
of the Doyon Utilities LLC Management Committee since its inception in 2005.
Andy graduated from Lathrop High School in 1961. After a brief time at both Oregon
State University and University of Oregon he returned to Fairbanks, where he completed
his degree in accounting. He then went on to Naval Aviation Officer’s Training in
Pensacola, Florida. After an accident in which he re-fractured his wrist, he was honorably
discharged.
Andy is a life-long resident of Fairbanks. His grandparents arrived in September 1906
on a sternwheeler. His mother was born in Fairbanks in 1915. Andy was born at St.
Joseph’s Hospital in 1943. During the 1940s, Andy’s family mined gold at Livengood
and made lifelong friendships with the Dodsons, Roberts, Hefflingers, Parkers, and
Lindstroms who are still close to this day.
Andy’s family enjoys a tradition rich with ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ history. His mother Emma (Miller) graduated
from ÃÛÌÒÓ°Ïñ in 1938 with a bachelor’s degree in business and his daughter Sydney received
her bachelor in business administration in 1999.
Andy’s three children: Sydney, Zach, and Jesse continued the family tradition of being
born and raised in Fairbanks. In 1994, Sydney married Yuri Morgan, from another multi-generation
Fairbanks family. Together they have two daughters named Rory and Massie.
Andy is an avid Skijorer. The year he turned 70, he represented the United States
in the International Federation of Sleddog Sports 2013 World Championships. The combination
of working with dogs, a competitive spirit and the enjoyment of the outdoors combine
to make this one of his passions in life. For the summer months, Andy usually takes
two extended motorcycle trips with his friends Jack Hébert, Dan Gavora, Oran Paul,
Doug Bishop and George Wise.
A lover of animals, Andy and his lovely wife of 45 years, Judy, currently have seven
dogs, the latest named Freddie, who like most of their four-legged family was rescued
from the Fairbanks North Star Borough Animal Shelter. Andy and Judy are advocates
for the Fairbanks Animal Shelter Fund, in fact their dog Freddie is the Shelter Fund’s
mascot.